Compare
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series vs Old Forester 86 Proof
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series and Old Forester 86 Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, classically built craft style versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series | Old Forester 86 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) +13 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$20 – $26 ~$40 less |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Old Forester 86 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/4 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series: A blend of Bardstown's own young distillate with older sourced Kentucky whiskey, which is exactly what the name describes. Polished and fruit-leaning, and a clear demonstration that the blending is the skill on show.
- Old Forester 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series if you want a well-built modern blend that shows what careful blending does rather than what age alone does with more proof behind it.
- Go with Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series); cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof).